Does Dragon Ball Sparking Zero have local co-op?

Dragon Ball Sparking Zero is an action-packed fighting game, and if you want to play with friends you may be curious about local co-op.

Sparking Zero is the latest installment in the beloved Budokai Tenkaichi franchise. One thing that made the original trilogy such a hit during the 2000s and 2010s was the local multiplayer focus. This allowed friends to sit down on the couch together and battle it with all their favorite characters.

If you prefer local co-op to online ranked matches, we’ve got all the details about Sparking Zero’s couch co-op below.

Does Dragon Ball Sparking Zero have local co-op?

Yes, Dragon Ball Sparking Zero does have local co-op in a dedicated split-screen mode. This had been rumored for a while after an unintended leak on the PlayStation Store mentioned the mode briefly.

Bandai Namco

The Hyperbolic Time Chamber will be the only split-screen map in Dragon Ball Sparking Zero.

Bandai Namco officially confirmed local co-op during Summer Games Fest 2024.

All maps feature local co-op

It was revealed on December 12, 2024, that every stage in the game now includes the split screen feature for offline battles. The addition was made available in a free update.

At launch the feature was only included in a single map, the Hyperbolic Time Chamber, to the disappointment of fans.

Producer Jun Furutani revealed the decision-making process about the initial couch co-op limitations to GamesRadar+ in an interview. He cited the sheer quantity of effects and environmental destruction as the reason Dragon Ball Sparking Zero’s local co-op was limited in this fashion.

“The game was really developed as a solo experience on one screen because it was so important for us to be able to maximize and optimize the experience of a Dragon Ball fight and all that comes with it, Furutani said. “For example, all the real-time interactions and animation that you can see in the game will make this Dragon Ball experience the best.”

“There were definitely challenges to go with the split screen feature. But still, we wanted the player to enjoy the game in many situations, and playing on his couch with a friend is one of the situations, so we made sure to add this feature in the game.”

That’s all you need to know about local co-op in Sparking Zero. For more on the game, check out our guides for  how to dodge, Sonic Sway, and Deflect Beams, how to get more Dragon Balls, custom battles explained, and how to customize characters.